First Coast Connect

Monday on First Coast Connect, we discussed President Trump’s executive order to ban travel from seven Muslim-majority countries with Travis Trice and Michelle Clowe from Jacksonville’s World Relief, Asghar Syed from Emerge USA and immigration attorney Ericka Curran with Florida Coastal School of Law. In this month’s segment of First Coast Success, Karen Brune Mathis spoke with Native Sun founder Aaron Gottlieb and we were joined by former TV anchor Donna Deegen to talk about next month’s 26.2

Friday on First Coast Connect, our weekly Media Roundtable included Larry Hannan from the Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville Business Journal editor Timothy Gibbons, WJCT business analyst John Burr and WJCT reporter Lindsey Kilbride . We also heard from First Coast Connect entertainment analyst Joey O’Hern and Henny Stewart from local TV show “The Chat” to talk about this week’s Oscar nominations, and members of the Jacksonville Harmony Chorus performed in studio.

Thursday on First Coast Connect, we spoke with Yvette Hyater-Adams who was recently appointed regional envoy of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture about their initiative the People’s State of the Union. Dr. Saumil Oza , chief of cardiology at St. Vincent’s Medical Center Riverside, talked about a recent decline in life expectancy rate, and we were joined in studio by comedians Paul Rodriguez and Shaun Latham.

Wednesday on First Coast Connect, we spoke by phone with “Reveal” host Al Letson about this weekend’s episode that focuses on Jacksonville. He was joined by WJCT reporter Lindsey Kilbride and Florida Times-Union reporter Ben Conorack who contributed to the program. We also spoke with Tom McLaughlin, owner of Metro Rooter for our going green segment on how he turns old household grease into useful products. Leadership Jacksonville CEO Jill Langford Dame joined the show to discuss their upcoming

Tuesday on First Coast Connect, we discussed the future of millennials in Jacksonville with the leader of the One Voice Young Professionals program Nyah Vanterpool . We also were joined by phone with Dr. Keith Fargo from the Alzheimer’s Association national office in Chicago and Michelle Branham, vice president of the Alzheimer’s Association, Central and North Florida to talk about a documentary airing Wednesday evening on WJCT Public Television. Lawrence Datz , a partner at Datz & Datz P.A.

Friday on First Coast Connect was our weekly Media Roundtable, featuring Anthony Pantazi from the Florida Times Union, Folio Weekly editor Claire Goforth, A.G. Gancarski from Florida Politics and contributor Fred Matthews. We also spoke with recently sworn-in Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels and from the current Theatre Jacksonville presentation of “Peter and the Starcatcher,” we spoke with cast members Ron Shreve and Al Emerick.

Thursday on First Coast Connect, we spoke with local residents Judy Sheklin and Lori Shad who will be attending Saturday’s Women’s March on Washington. As part of NPR’s “A Nation Engaged” collaboration with local stations we asked listeners what they want the new president to know about themselves and their community as he takes office. We also spoke with Read 66 spokesman Chris Boivin and Jacksonville Public Library regional manager Keli Mathis about their initiative to get more people to read.

Wednesday on First Coast Connect, we spoke with the first female ringmaster for Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus Kristen Michelle Wilson. We also spoke with George Maxey, executive director of the New Town Success Zone, and Dr. Ivan Porter, nephrologist at the Mayo Clinic, about a new collaboration and we heard from Colonel Brian Bell, commander of the 125th Fighter Wing of the Florida National Guard about the possible arrival in Jacksonville of the new F-35 Lightning II fighter

Tuesday on “First Coast Connect,” on the heels of the fatal Martin Luther King Jr. Day shooting at the Jacksonville Landing we spoke with life coach and metacognition expert Grayson Marshall Jr. He regularly speaks with youth groups and others on ways to end violence. We were then joined by the new dean of the University of Florida College of Medicine Dr. Leon Haley. We also heard a recorded interview with Texas singer-songwriter Eric Taylor.

Friday on “First Coast Connect,” was our weekly Media Roundtable. Our panel included Andrew Pantazi and Dan Scanlan from the Florida Times-Union and WJCT business analyst John Burr. We also heard from Florida Theatre president Numa Saisselin about its new partnership with Community First Credit Union and to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Alhambra Theatre we were joined cast members of their current production of the play Come Blow Your Horn, Tod Booth, Lisa Booth and Jessica Booth.